The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom has suspended 17 caretaker committee chairmen and two other members for allegedly sponsoring youths to protest against Saturday’s ward congress.
Akwa Ibom publicity secretary of the APC, Nkereuwem Enyongekere, in a statement, condemned the pockets of protests at the Secretariat by those he described as sponsored youths.
He said the ward congress committee, members, and leaders of the party had adjudged the exercise as peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and successful.
The spokesperson noted with great concerns despite the excellent developments recorded, there were very minimal pockets of agitations and distractions deliberately and purposefully concocted to defame the party and to make the entire exercise appear rancorous.
According to him: “The SWC decided to view the action of sponsored youths at the party Secretariat burning some tires instead of reporting at their various ward centres to cast their votes as senseless and misplaced of priority.
“The SWC is on a trail to exposing their sponsors for appropriate sanctions.
“In line with our party Constitution, article 21: I, ii, iv, v, vi, vii & ix, the SWC has with immediate effect suspended the 17 caretaker chapter chairmen and two party members for act of gross misconducts and insubordination.
“All suspended caretaker committee chapter chairmen listed above are hereby directed to hand over all party properties in their custody to the respective deputy chairman in the affected LGAs.
“On the strength of this statement, all Deputy Caretaker committee chairmen in the affected LGAs should immediately take over the responsibilities of the party as Acting chapter chairmen.
“Subject to the provisions of our constitution and the right to fair hearing the SWC has accordingly set up a disciplinary committee to enable the affected persons to appear and defend themselves accordingly.”
